'This day in history' 1st May 2002

Not a great day!

By Ivybridge Wolf
May 1 2020

Another small article to stimulate the memory cells! Not a great memory this time around but maybe a catalyst for what was to come the following season? On 1st May 2002, Wolves played Norwich City in the second leg of the play off semi final. Of course, this was to become our last match of the season, a season which promised everything but at the death, gave only torcher and heartbreak for all Wolves fans.

Who went to this match? I did, trawling up my two lads up the M5 on a night that promised a great deal, despite a terrible first leg at Carrow Road where we went down 3-1. I remember the atmosphere at Molineux was magnificent at the start, all 27,418 absolutely rocking with the Liquidator blasting out of the tannoys.

But this was the season that wasn't.

We had been way ahead in the league, toe to toe with Manchester City for the title, Albion at one point 11 ponts behind. No hope for them! We played Grimsby at home in March, easy win? Muscat right hooked one of their players in front of the South Bank, got red and we lost to the bottom side. For many, including myself, this was the day it all went wrong. I went to Florida on 30th March and by the time I returned on 13th April it was looking dire, this after defeats to Manchester City and Millwall. Jet lagged, we all travelled up on 14th April for the Wimbledon match, we won but it wasn't great, Albion firmly having the advantage now before the last match of the season.

We travelled up again to Hillsborough the following saturday, and when Cameron scored after 30 seconds and I went mad in the middle of the Wednesday fans. I survived. We drew. Albion beat Palace. They were promoted. We weren't.

so, to Molineux on 1st May. I was still confident but it was tight and cagey, edgy in the stands as time wore on. Then deep into the second half Kevin 'Scoops' Cooper scored a great goal .... hope.

We pressed, we pushed and huffed. The anxiety was awful. In the very final seconds a cross flew over (can't remember if it was a corner) and from close range a header fell to Paul 'Butts' Butler ..... HE BLOODY MISSED IT!!!! Final whistle, devastation, hurt, demoralised, exhausted.

What collapse at the end of the season!
I went to the 2nd leg of the play-off and after this I was starting to get well fed up with the play-offs.
On another note to "this day in history" , it was on this day in 2008 that Mark Kendall passed away.
Although I wouldn't say he was one of our greats, he was pretty solid in the two promotions from the bottom two divisions and played a crucial part and was a step up on some of the goalkeepers we had immediately before him.
I met him briefly once outside the ground and he seemed a really nice bloke.

Mark Kendall was a key man in that great team of the late 80s who brought us back from the brink. A terrific character who really engaged with the fans ..... often during the match! Very sadly, he died far too young

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